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Average rating: 5 based on 3 reviews

Applied Concepts in Vision Therapy 2.0

Rated 5 out of 5

Tamara Petrosyan – June 9, 2022

Here you go! Amazing book.

In 1997, Dr. Leonard Press took on the colossal task of consolidating information scattered among many sources into one extensive text on vision therapy and rehabilitation. The textbook, with its floral cover, grew to be on every ‘must read’ list for optometric students, residents, vision therapists, and rising and minted doctors alike. Dr. Press is now joined by Drs. Marc Taub and Pamala Schnell to revamp the text into a truly comprehensive reference. While a considerable amount of material from the former edition has been preserved, “Applied Concepts in Vision Therapy 2.0” (ACiVT2) has significant updates from the original edition as well as several new, timely chapters.

ACiVT2 boasts over 50 contributing international authors versus the initial 9 in the original text. They represent a wide array of didactic and clinical modes of practice as well as a blend of newer and more established clinicians. The list of contributors almost reads like a ‘who’s who’ among the vision therapy community with invaluable expertise and professional experience in their respective chapters. Version 2.0 is filled with colorful photos, illustrations, and charts to help visualize and solidify the concepts discussed in the text. The text itself is concise and extremely comprehensive producing a resource that is easily followed.

The book seamlessly blends classical, behavioral, and functional optometric theories and outlines practical guidelines on how to apply the theoretical concepts into clinical practice. It is broken up into four key organizational components: (1) foundations of vision therapy, (2) diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines, (3) treatment guidelines and procedures, and (4) practice management and administration. Of particular note are the new chapters on visual disability, interprofessional collaboration, technology incorporation, optometric phototherapy, primitive reflexes, special needs populations, and multisensory care. Throughout the whole textbook, information is covered in great descriptive and illustrational detail which lend saliency and clarity. Each chapter concludes with a wealth of references related to each topic.

Section 1, Foundations of Vision Therapy, discusses the evolution and principles of vision therapy, different models of vision, as well as considerations that must be made while working with a diverse patient population. As chapter 5 states, “individual differences can be the major cause of large differences in achievement”. Chapter 4, “Considerations in Programming Optometric Vision Therapy”, is filled with practical clinical information on sequencing vision therapy procedures, developing treatment plans based on diagnosis, and methods for loading and unloading therapy techniques.

Section 2, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Guidelines, starts off by discussing diseases that masquerade as functional and binocular vision disorders with specific case examples. The remaining chapters go on to discuss, in detail, the theory behind, symptomatology, and diagnostic techniques and criteria for amblyopia, strabismus, binocular vision, accommodative, oculomotor, and visual information-processing disorders, progressive myopia, and traumatic brain injury. The chapter on sports vision does a commendable job discussing skills, testing, and considerations relevant to athletes, such as gaze stabilization, angle of gaze, dynamic visual acuity, visual boundaries, and light adaptability.

Section 3, Treatment Guidelines and Procedures, uses easy-to-follow charts, tables, photos, and partitioning to phase out therapy approaches for the dysfunctions noted in section 2. Of note are new standalone chapters discussing technology in vision therapy, vision therapy for special populations and young children, primitive reflex and multisensory integration, and optometric light and color phototherapy. While there is some redundancy between sections and chapters, the editors do a commendable job in cross-referencing the material and allowing the contributing authors some latitude and ability to demonstrate their various approaches to the topic. The appendix following several of the chapters (reminiscent of the 2007 OEPF reprint of ACiVT1 with an accompanying c/d) hold equipment lists, sample reports, quick reference guides, assessment checklists, and sample patient instructions for various techniques and procedures.

Section 4, Practice Management and Administration, addresses the hurdles of delivering care in a clinical framework where many challenges have to be navigated. The chapters titled ‘Guidelines for Case Summary and Presentation”, “Protocols of Vision Therapy”, “Administration and Correspondence”, Intra- and Inter-Professional Relations”, and “ Visual Disability in the Vision Therapy Practice” provide a wide variety of clinically relevant resources regarding practice management. Some examples are prompted responses to commonly asked questions from parents, reimbursement dilemmas, arranging a therapy schedule, handling progress evaluations, interprofessional correspondence, and advocating for patients with disabilities.

Throughout the textbook, the authors emphasize that vision therapy must involve the entire body and that neurology, environment, and behavior are integral to treatment.
Though the text is decidedly written for optometrists, it may also be of interest to parents, educators and practitioners in allied fields of ophthalmology, cognitive rehabilitation, learning disorders, psychology, and occupational therapy.

“Applied Concepts in Vision Therapy” has always been a must-have text for students, residents, and optometrists dealing with pediatrics and vision rehabilitation. With the addition of several timely topics and a collaborative effort to assimilate the latest knowledge from international experts, version 2.0 is sure to be the new invaluable ‘go-to’ text for any professional learning about or practicing vision therapy and rehabilitation. The popularity of ACiVT 1 resulted in OEPF periodically running out of the print edition, necessitating back orders; I would not be surprised if it was the same with the revamped ACiVT 2 by Drs. Press, Taub and Schnell.

ABC's of How You and I See!

Stephanie Giordano – September 12, 2021

This was daughter’s favorite book when she was 3! A perfect book to educate your children about the visual system at home, in the office, or in the classroom.